Incandescent lamp



March 14, 1939. F. J. MAJOR INCANDESCENT LAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 11, 1936 INVENTOR.

AT; ORNEY.

March 14, 1939. F. J. MAJOR 2,150,232

INCANDESCENT LAMP Filed Aug. 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 INV iEEEEa l/llll l/ III/4.1

ENTOR 'A rromzg Patented Mar. 14, 1939 i T D STATES PATENT" OFF-ICE lNCANDESCENT LAMP Ocean Park, CaliL, assignor of Forrest J. Major,

one-third to Palmer 0. Narveson,

both of Los Angeles,

Russel S. Major,

. one-third to Elbert S. Major, Application August 11, 1936, Serial No. 95,329 17 claims- (01. 176-27) This invention relates to and has for an object thereof the provision of a multi-filament incandescent lamp having incorporated therewith in a novel and eflicacious manner an improved selector which is operable while the lamp is mounted in a socket to selectively connect said filaments in the lamp circuit.

A particularobject of this invention is to provide in a multi-filament lamp of the character described, aselector which is simple as to construction, does .not increase the bulkof the lamp, adds but little expense as to cost thereof, and is subject to a convenient operation to energize any one of the several filaments without requiring removal or adjustment of the lamp relative to the socket in which it is mounted.

A further object is to prov1de a lamp of the r. character described having a combined filament selector and fuse wherein the fuse element serves as one of the terminals of the lamp circuit and as a contact element of the selector, and is removable when "burnt out whereby to be replaced by another fuse element, without otherwise impairing the operativeness'of the lamp.

An additional object is to provide in a multifilament lamp'of the character described a filament selector having an operating member which is readily accessible for operation when the lamp is screwed into a socket and which does not appreciably extend outwardly from the lamp so as to in any manner interfere with shade attachments or the like, said member preferably being in the form of a flat rotary ring surrounding the neck of the lamp.

- Other objects will appear as the description of my invention progresses.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my improvements in the accompanying drawings, subject to modification, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention. In said drawings:

' Fig. l is a top" plan view of the lamp of this invention;

Fig. 2 is 'a sectional view line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the contact elements of the selector.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the plane of line 6li of Fi 5; I

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary horizontalsection of another modified form of the invention; and

, alin'ed spaced contact terminals l6 and H which enlarged outer end or head I6 which facilitates element ll. taken on the plane of I agement with the end ll.

one-third to Calif., Atlanta, Ga.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 7.

One embodiment of this invention as shown in detail in the accompanying drawings comprises the usual lamp bulb I having its neck 2 cemented 5 within a socket sleeve 3, the outer portion of which has the usual threads 4. Mounted in the bulb are a plurality of filaments 5 having a common'ground conductor 6 connected at l with the sleeve 3 whereby the-latter will serve as one ter- 10 minal of the lamp circuit.

Each of the filaments has a separate conductor 8 embedded in a non-conducting plug or closure 9 cemented or otherwise held within the sleeve 3, there being tubular members ID of conducting l5 material held in said plug and in which the conductors 8 are secured in electrical contact therewith.

My improved selectorgby means of which any one of the filaments may be energized asdesired and which also includes a fuse arranged in a particularly advantageous relation thereto, generally comprises a contact element ll removably and frictionally held in a bore l2 formed centrally through the closure 9, filament contacts I3, 5 plungers M of non-conducting material for moving said contacts into engagement with the element H, and an operating ring l5 rotatable on the sleeve 3 toactuate plungers l4. i

As here shown, the element ll includes axlally are exposed at the outer and inner ends of the closure 9, the outer terminal l6 serving as one terminal of the lamp socket and the inner terminal ll being arranged to be engaged by the filament contacts l3. A tubular member M of non-conducting material and which fits snugly in the bore l2 holds in its end the said terminal contacts l6 and H, with the latter connected by a fuse element IS. The outer terminal l6 has an gripping andremoval or insertion of the entire The inner terminal or contact I! has a reduced end 11 extending into an enlargement 20 of the bore l2 to provide adequate space for movement or the contacts l3 into and out or en- As here shown, the contacts l3 have extensions 2| afiixed to and electrically contacted with the members In for the conductorsB, said extensions lying against the inner end of the closure 9 with the contacts l3 extended into the enlargement 20 0f the bore l2 and normally spaced from the end IS.

The plungers it are radially slidably mounted in the closure 9 and extend outwardly therefrom through aperture 22 in the sleeve 3, being normally thus extended by the spring action of the contacts 3 which are engaged with the inner end of said plungers. The projecting outer ends of these Y plungers engage in a circumferential roove 23 formed in the inner side of the selector ring l and thereby rotatably support the ring upon the inner unthreaded portionof the sleeve 3.

One wall of this groove is formed with a. cam surface 23 for engagement with the plungers i4. A shoulder 24 in said groove limits the movement of the ring to rotation in one direction. Thus, when the lamp is being screwed into a socket the ring will not be turned should it frictionally engage said socket.

It will now be seen that to connect a filament in the lamp circuit it is only necessary to rotate the ring until the cam 23 engages the selected plunger l4 and pushes the latter inwardly. Upon being pushed inwardly this plunger will engage and move the contact l3 opposite thereto into engagement with the end ll of the element H, and the lamp circuit will be established for one of said filaments.

In the modified form of the invention as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the metal sleeve or base 30 is equipped with the usual closure 3| and has the contact fuse element 32 of the same construction as the one I I in the other form of the invention.

The filaments not shown have a common ground conductor 33 connected with the sleeve 30 and conductors 34 connected with and forming a part of contact means carried by the closure. A ring 36 is rotatable on the sleeve 30 in the same manner as the ring l5 and has a groove 31. 7

As here shown the contact means comprise helical springs 38 which are mounted in radial bores 39 in the closure 3| and have their outer ends engaged with laterally extended contact terminals 40 of the conductors 34. These terminals 40 are extended through insulating sleeves 4| into the groove 31 of the ring 36, and are adapted to engage a contact segment 42.which is counter sunk in said groove. This segment is of such extent that it may be engaged withbut one of the terminals 46 or with two or all of said terminals at the same time, whereby one, two or all of the filaments may be energized as desired.

The contact segment 42 is electrically connected in the lamp circuit by means of a helical spring 43 having its inner end engaged with the contact member 32 and its outer end. engaged with the said contact segment, there being an insulating sleeve 44 corresponding to the sleeves 4 I.

A plunger 45 of insulation material is slidably supported in the lamp base or sleeve 30 and in a socket 46 in the closure 3|. This plunger is extended by a spring 41 so as to slidably engage in the groove 31 and thereby assist in holding the ring 36 for free rotation on the lamp. It will now be seen that in this form of the invention the ring 36 may be rotated to selectively connect the several filaments in the lamp circuit and to simultaneously connect two or all of said filaments.

In the modification shown in Figs. '7 and 8, the construction and arrangement is the same as in the other form of the invention except that the helical spring contact members 48 (see Fig. 7) are soldered or otherwise connected, as at 49, with the filament conductors 50 and are extended through the metal base 5| into the groove 52 of the rotatable ring 53, there being an insulation sleeve 54 for each spring. The contact segment 55 in the ring 53 is connected in the lamp circuit by a helical spring contact 56, one end of which engages the lamp terminal contact element 51 and the other end engages the said segment. An insulation tube 58 insulates the spring contact 56 from the metal base sleeve 5|. In this form, as in the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6, when the ring is turned the contact segment will be caused to engage the contact spring 56 for one of the filaments or to simultaneously engage two or all of the contacts whereby one, two or all of the filaments may be energized.

What I claim, is:

1. An incandescent lamp comprising a bulb, a plurality of filaments therein, a sleeve of con ducting material secured to said bulb, a closure of non-conducting material within said sleeve, a conductor connecting all of said filaments with said sleeve, a conducting element mounted in said closure and having its outer end exposed at the outer end of said closure to serve as a terminal of the lamp circuit, a plurality of contacts, conductors connecting said contacts with said filaments, and means for selectively electrically connecting said contacts with said conducting element including an actuator operable exteriorly of said sleeve, while the lamp is mounted in a socket, and members associated with said contacts and extending laterally outward through said sleeve and being engaged with said actuator.

2. An. incandescent lamp comprising a bulb, a plurality of filaments therein, a sleeve of .conducting material secured to said bulb, a closure of non-conducting material within said sleeve, a conductor connecting all of said filaments with said sleeve, a conducting element mounted in said closure and having its outer end exposed at the outer end of said closure to serve as a terminal of the lamp circuit, a plurality of contacts, conductors connecting said contacts with said filaments, means for seletively electrically connecting said contacts with said conducting element including a rotary actuator operable exteriorly 01 said sleeve, while the lamp is mounted in a socket, and members slidably supported by said sleeve and engaging said contacts, and supporting said actuator on said sleeve.

3. An incandescent lamp comprising a bulb, a plurality of filaments therein, a sleeve of conducting material secured to said bulb, a closure of non-conducting material within said sleeve, a conductor connecting all of said filaments with said sleeve, a conducting element mounted in said closure and having its outer end exposed at the outer end of said closure to serve as a terminal of the lamp circuit, and its inner end exposed adjacent to the inner end of said closure, a plurality of contacts carried by said closure and adapted to be selectively engaged with said inner end of said conducting element, conductors connecting said contacts with said filaments, means for selectively moving said contacts into engagement with said conducting element including an actuator operable exteriorly of said sleeve, while the lamp is mounted in a socket, and plungers interposed between and engaging said actuator and contacts, said actuator being in the form of a ring and having a groove therein-in which said plungers are engaged.

4. An incandescent lamp comprising a bulb, a

tor operable exteriorly of said sleeve, while the lamp is mounted in a socket, plungers interposed between and engaging said actuator and contacts, said actuator being in the form of a ring and having a groove therein in which said plungers are engaged, and a cam surface in saidgroove arranged to engage said plungers.

5. An incandescent lamp comprising a bulb, a plurality of filaments therein, a sleeve of conducting material secured to said bulb, a closure of non-conducting material within said sleeve, a conductor connecting all of said filaments with said sleeve, a conducting element mounted in said closure and having its outer end exposed at the outer end of said closure to serve as a terminal of the lamp circuit, and its inner end exposed adjacent to the inner end of said closure, a plurality of contacts carried by said closure and adapted to be selectively engaged with said inner end of said conducting element, conductors connecting said contacts with said filaments, and means for selectively moving said contacts into engagement with said conducting element including an actuator operable exteriorly of said sleeve, while the lamp is mounted in a socket, said conducting element having said ends thereof spaced apart and a fuse element joining said ends.

6. In an incandescent lamp, a bulb, a sleeve of conducting material fixed to said bulb and having a threaded portion, a closure of non-conducting material in said sleeve, a plurality of filaments in said bulb, a plurality of contact members, conductors connecting filaments with said sleeve and with said contacts, a conducting means in said closure having its outer end exposed at the outer end or said closure and its inner end exposed for engagement with at least one of said contacts, and means operable on the exterior of said sleeve between the threaded portion and the inner end of the sleeve for selectively engaging said contacts and connecting said filaments in the lamp circuit, said last named means including a ring rotatably mounted on the exterior of said sleeve, and members associated with said contacts and slidably supported by said sleeve and extensible therethrough for supporting said ring.

7. In an incandescent lamp, a bulb, filaments therein, a sleeve of conducting material fixed to said bulb, a body of non-conducting material closing said sleeve, a lamp terminal contact on said body, and means for selectively connecting said filaments with said sleeve and contact including a ring rotatable on'said sleeve, and members slidably supported by and extending laterally outwardly from said sleeve and being movable by rotation of said ring for effecting electrical connection between said filaments and said sleeve.

8. In an incandescent lamp, a bulb, filaments therein, a sleeve of conducting material fixed to said bulb, a body of non-conducting material closing said sleeve, a lamp terminal contact on said body, means for selectively connecting said filaments with said sleeve and contact includinga ring rotatable on said sleeve, and having a circumferential groove on the inner periphery therein,

thereof, plungers slidablysupported by said body and sleeve and having their outer terminals engaged in said groove, a cam surface in said groove,

and spring contacts engaging the inner ends of said plungers.

9. In an incandescent lamp, a bulb, filaments therein, a sleeve of conducting material fixed to said bulb, a body of non-conducting material closing said sleeve and having a bore therein provided with an enlarged inner end, a conducting element in said bore and having an outer terminal exposed at the outer end of said body and an inner terminal exposed in said enlargement of said bore, a plurality of spring contacts fixed to, said body and being movable to engage said inner terminal, conductors for connecting said filaments with said sleeve and said contacts, a. ring rotatable on said sleeve and having a groove therein formed with a cam surface, and a plurality of plungers slidably supported by said body and sleeve and having their inner ends engaged with said spring contacts and their outer ends engaged in said groove.

10. In an incandescent lamp, a bulb, filaments therein, a sleeve of conducting material fixed to said bulb, a body of non-conducting material closing said sleeve and having a bore therein provided with an enlarged inner end, a conducting element in said bore and having an outer terminal'exposed at the outer end of said body and an inner terminal exposed in said enlargement of said bore, a pluralityof spring contacts fixed to said body andbeing movable to engage said inner terminal, conductors for connecting said filaments with said sleeve and said contacts, a ring rotatable on said sleeve and having a groove therein formedwith a cam surface, and a plurality of plungers slidably supported by said body and sleeve and having their inner ends engaged with said spring contacts and their outer ends engaged in said groove, said terminals of said conducting element being spaced apart and a fuse element connecting said terminals.

ll. Inan incandescent lamp a bulb, filaments therein, a sleeve of conducting material fixed to said bulb, a body of non-conducting material closing said sleeve, a lamp terminal contact element on said body and means for selectively connecting said filaments with said sleeve and fitmp terminal contact element, including a ring of insulation material rotatable on said sleeve, and circuit closing members actuated by rotation of said sleeve, said sleeve having a circumferential groove and laterally slidable members associated with said circuit closing members and being engaged in said groove, said sleeves having openings therein through which said slidable members are extensible. I

12. In an incandescent lamp, a bulb, filaments therein, a sleeve of conducting material fixed to said bulb, a lamp terminal contact insulated from said sleeve, means for selectively connecting said filaments with said sleeve and contact including a ring rotatable on said sleeve, said ring having a groove circumierentially thereof, a contact segment in said groove, said sleeve having openings filament contact portions extended through said openings into said groove for engagement with said contact segment, and insusaid sleeve', means for selectively connecting said filaments with said sleeve and contact including a ring rotatable on said sleeve, said ring having a groove circumferentially thereof, a contact segment in said groove, said sleeve having openings .therein, contact elements connected with said filaments and extended through said openings into said groove for engagement with said contact segment and for retaining said ring on said sleeve, one of said contact elements being engaged with said lamp terminal contact and said segment at all times.

P4. In an incandescent lamp, a bulb, filaments therein, a sleeve of conducting material fixed to said bulb, a body of non-conducting material closing said sleeve, a lamp terminal contact on said body, means for selectively connecting said filaments with said sleeve and contact including a ring rotatable on said sleeve, said ring having a groove circumferentially thereof, a contact segment in said groove, said body having radial bores therein, helical springs mounted in said bores, said sleeve having openings, contact portions extended by said springs through said openings into said groove for engagement with said contact segment, and insulation sleeves mounted in said openings and through which said contact portions extend, one of said springs being engaged with said lamp terminal contact and segment at all times, said segment being countersunk in said groove and adapted to be simultaneously engaged with all said contact portions.

15. In an incandescent lamp, a bulb, filaments therein, a sleeve of conducting material fixed to said bulb, a body of non-conducting material closing said sleeve, a lamp terminal contact on said body, and means for selectively connecting said filaments with said sleeve and contact including a ring rotatable on said sleeve, said ring having a circumferential groove therein, a contact segment in said groove, a plurality of socket openings in said body, helical spring contacts in said socket openings, conductors leading from said filaments to and being engaged with said spring contacts, said sleeve having openings therein registering with said groove, contact portions extending through said sleeve openings into said sleeve under the tension of and being in contact with said springs, tubular members of insulation material engaged in said sleeve openings and said groove and through which said portions extend, one of said spring contacts having its terminals engaged at all times with said lamp terminal contact and said contact segment.

16. In an incandescent lamp, a bulb, filaments therein, a sleeve of conducting material fixed to said bulb, a body of non-conducting material closing said sleeve, a lamp terminal contact on said body, and means for selectively connecting said filaments with said sleeve and contact including a ring rotatable on said sleeve, said ring having a circumferential groove therein, a contact segment in said groove, a plurality of socket openings in said body, helical spring contacts in said socket openings, conductors leading from said filaments to and being engaged with said spring contacts, said sleeve having openings therein registering with said groove, contact portio-ns extending through said sleeve openings into said sleeve under the tension of and being in contact with said springs, tubular members of insulation material engaged in said 'sleeve openings and said groove and through which said portions extend, one of said spring contacts having its terminals engaged at all times with said lamp terminal contact and said contact segment, said portions comprising terminals of said conductors.

17. An incandescent lamp comprising a base including terminal contacts, a bulb carried by said base, filaments in said bulb and switch means on the base for connecting said filaments with said terminal contacts and including a rotary actuator, and switch members extending outwardly from the base and yieldably engaging, inwardly movable relative to and rotatably supporting said rotary actuator, said rotary actuator having a groove therein in which said switch members are engageable, said rotary actuator being insertible into position on and removable from the base upon inward movement of said switch members.

FORREST J. MAJOR. 

